Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Lerer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up Jewish in suburban Ohio and no stranger to the outsider’s plight, I spent much of my time in Over the Rhine’s indie theater scene, pursuing my BFA in acting and collaborating with new playwrights across several Off-Broadway New York theater groups after college.
Half a decade later, I pivoted to the film industry to learn post-production on award-winning series such as Showtime’s “Shameless”, HBO’s “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”, and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” During this time, my voice as a director blossomed as I dove into unabashedly raw, gritty narratives exploring the messiness of humanity from the female gaze.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve been lucky to have a great support system. I come from a family of creatives; my great-great-grandmother was a concert pianist, and both my aunts are artists. When I expressed a desire to pursue entertainment, my parents hopped aboard and have championed me ever since.
A friend once aptly described our business as “exciting, inconsistent, and intense.” I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My directing style explores character-driven, grounded human relationships from a gritty, feminine point of view. My work has crossed genres from drama, dramedy, science fiction and most recently psychological thrillers.
With a background in television, acting and post-production, I shoot for the edit and thrive on working with talent. My films have screened at Oscar-Qualifying and Canadian Screen Award-Qualifying festivals including Hollyshorts and Fantasia. I’m a member of the Alliance of Women Directors, Producers Guild of America, and Women in Film. I’m a proud alumnus of the Sundance Directing Television Intensive, AFI Lab and Intimacy Coordinators and Directors workshop.
What were you like growing up?
Curious and outspoken. I must have driven my parents mad asking why over and over, but they always entertained my big questions about the world around me, sustaining a fervor I’ve kept throughout my adult life. My father modeled what it meant to wander and follow my inquisitive nature, taking me fossil hunting in our hometown’s local spillway and spending hours discussing its history while peering over trilobites. My mother has the most patient approach, always seeing the good in people – a trait I value in my life and on set.
As an adolescent, no crafting activity stone was left unturned; from sewing to cross-stitch, painting to sculpture, or theatre to dance, my passion for self-expression grew steadily into high school, where I began spending weekends taking acting courses that continued on through college. According to my parents, I’ve always been a leader, vocal and outspoken; I guess not much has changed.
Contact Info:
- Website: emilylerer.com
- Instagram: @EmilyJLerer
- Other: vimeo.com/user31290932
